The Story Of Chung Ling Soo Pt. 1
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Chung Ling Soo, born William Ellsworth Robinson on April 2, 1861, in Westchester County, New York, was a renowned American magician who captivated audiences worldwide with his elaborate illusions and enigmatic persona. Despite his Chinese stage identity, Robinson had no Asian heritage; he meticulously crafted this alter ego to add an exotic allure to his performances.
Robinson's fascination with magic began in his youth, influenced by his father, James Campbell Robinson, a performer skilled in impersonations, hypnotism, ventriloquism, and magic tricks. By the age of 14, Robinson was performing professionally under the moniker "Robinson, the Man of Mystery." Eager to distinguish himself in the competitive world of magic, he adopted various stage personas, including "Achmed Ben Ali," before ultimately creating Chung Ling Soo—a character inspired by the Chinese magician Ching Ling Foo.
Embracing his new identity, Robinson donned traditional Chinese attire, wore a queue hairstyle, and refrained from speaking on stage, purportedly due to his inability to speak English. He even used an interpreter during interviews to maintain the illusion. This dedication to his crafted persona led to widespread acclaim, making him one of the highest-paid performers on the vaudeville circuit in early 20th-century Europe.
One of Chung Ling Soo's most famous illusions was the "Condemned to Death by the Boxers," commonly known as the bullet catch trick. In this act, assistants dressed as Boxers would load marked bullets into rifles and fire them at Soo, who appeared to catch the bullets with his hands or mouth. In reality, the guns were cleverly rigged to prevent the bullets from being fired, creating a convincing illusion of danger.
Tragically, on March 23, 1918, during a performance at London's Wood Green Empire, the bullet catch illusion went disastrously wrong. A mechanical failure caused a live bullet to be discharged, striking Soo in the chest. Breaking character, he exclaimed in English, "Oh my God. Something's happened. Lower the curtain." He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Chung Ling Soo's death shocked the world and unveiled his true identity, revealing the lengths to which he had gone to maintain his mystique. His life and career remain a testament to the art of illusion and the complex interplay between reality and performance.
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The Story Of Chung Ling Soo Pt. 1
• The Story Of Chung Ling Soo Pt. 1
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